Working groups

Working groups

The European Left has acquired a key competence in issues such as peace and social policies. Therefore, the EL decided to work even more intensively in these fields, especially on fundamental freedom and civil rights, by creating a working group on these issues.

On 11 November 2006, 26 representatives from 11 European countries and 14 political parties came together in Berlin to create a European Network of Trade Unionists. The participants were not only representing the European political left, but also the trade unionist left.

"Being queer means leading a different sort of life. It's not about the mainstream, profit margins, patriotism, patriarchy or being assimilated. It's not about executive directors, privilege and elitism. It's about being on the margins, defining ourselves." (Leaflet of Queer Nations).

During the last years we have been witnessing in Latin America a political spring of the Left, embodied by the success of left and central-left government experiences on the subcontinent. These experiences are of different nature, but they are all working at the construction of a way out on the left to the disasters brought about by the neo-liberal policies. The issue of constructing a "socialism in the 21st century" finds new propulsions in the Latin American experiences, after being forgotten for so many years.

"Being women means leading a different sort of life. It's not about the mainstream, profit margins, patriotism, patriarchy or being assimilated. It's not about executive directors, privilege and elitism. It's about being on the margins, defining ourselves." (Leaflet of Women Nations).

The EU policy on energy and climate is leading to a catastrophe. Worldwide the five biggest energy companies are richer than the banks today. Energy supply companies act in favour of their shareholders rather than serving the interests of the society and the environment. Democratic control over energy policy therefore is one of the key issues of European politics.

The EL is convinced that the political Left has to contribute in a very concrete way to the broad discussion about alternatives to the neo-liberal policy, which dominates today all economic processes in the EU and the EU member countries. Therefore, in order to focus more intensively on economic policy – both on a theoretical and political level – the EL has created a working group on this subject.